Brattleboro

As a Connecticut River town in southern Vermont, Brattleboro benefited greatly from the easy availability of water and water power, and thus has been a prosperous town since the 18th and 19th centuries, as shown by the extraordinary collection of beautiful buildings in various styles that survive from those days and the first few decades of the 20th century. Only a very small selection of them are shown in this article.

By car

• Route 91. The major highway running north-south with 3 exits in the town. 91 goes north all the way to Canada. South it goes through Greenfield, Springfield and Hartford, terminating in New Haven.
• Route 9. Runs east-west through town. Going west it hits Bennington, and to the east, Keene.

By bus

• Greyhound, terminal at 1102 Putney Rd, near exit 3 on route 91.

By train

The town is served by the Vermonter, a daily Amtrak train which goes south to New York and Washington, D.C. and north to St. Albans. is located at 10 Vernon Rd, a short walk south from downtown.

For getting around the center of town, all you should need are your feet. Amble around the streets, stop at some shops, and just take your time. For getting out the town, a car would be the best way to go. Be aware that traffic in downtown Brattleboro can resemble that found in cities orders of magnitude larger, in part due to a long term construction project on I-91 that causes people to leave the highway, but more due to all the major streets feeding into Main St in the center of town. Driving within the center should be avoided and parking all day is quite cheap (under $10). If you are in the mood, though, rent a bike at the Brattleboro Bicycle Shop located downtown at 165 Main St.

• Gallery WalkThe first Friday of each month from 5:30PM-8:30PM. Shops and galleries are open and people come to see the sights. A good way to get a feel for the locals. See the fashion show at Twice Upon a Time, a local consignment shop.

• Brattleboro Museum and Art Center

  phone: +1 802 257-0124
  address: 10 Vernon St
  Small museum with consistently changing exhibits since they have no collection. Current admission ranges from $4 for students to $8 for adults. Free for kids under 6.

• Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery

  address: 139 Main St
  The Hooker-Dunham Theater puts on concerts and dramatic performances. Tickets are usually very reasonably priced. The gallery has an ever-changing selection of art.

• Latchis Hotel & Theater

  phone: +1 802 254-6300
  address: 50 Main St
  A very cool old theater that hosts new films, old films, live theater, and guest speakers. On Halloween they show the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is great fun. They also show films during the Brattleboro Women's Film Festival.

• Brattleboro Farmer's MarketThe Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market is Southern Vermont's premier farmers' market featuring over 50 vendors with agricultural products, crafts, live music and animals and ethnic foods from around the world. Whether you are local or a tourist, you can stop by to get your weekly produce and grab a quick lunch, or come with your family and stay for the day! In the winter the market is held in the River Garden on Main Street in downtown Brattleboro. At least one person recommends the chicken sticks at Anons.

• Grafton Village Cheese

  phone: +1 802 246-2221
  address: 400 Linden St
  Watch world renowned Grafton Village Cheddar being produced while munching on copious free samples provided around the store, which also sells a wide variety of Vermont-made products.

• Everyone's Books

  phone: +1 802 254-8160
  address: 25 Elliot St
  Small new-book store with a social justice focus, although they carry a little bit of everything.

• Brattleboro Books

  phone: +1 802 257-7777
  address: 36 Elliot St
  Tightly packed store selling used and rare books.

• Harmony Underground

  phone: +1 802 257-8080
  address: 26 Harmony Pl

• Mystery on Main Street

  phone: +1 802 258-2211
  address: 119 Main St
  In a small town that already has three other bookstores, you wouldn't expect a store selling only new mystery novels to survive, but Brattleboro is not your average town.

• Penelope Wurr

  phone: +1 802-246-3015
  address: 167 Main Street

• Blue Moose Bistro

  phone: +1 802 254-6245
  address: 39 Main St
  The cafe has the standard assortment of coffee, espresso, and tea, plus a decent selection of gourmet sodas and juices. The baked goods are quite good. The food is great with lots of vegetarian options and is moderately priced. The area is well lit and a good place to read, surf online, or study. The only downside is that they play cheese-ball music. It does not get in the way of conversations or interrupt studying. Cell phone conversations are not encouraged inside the store or cafe, which is nice. The cafe has free Wi-Fi with purchase.

• Brattleboro Food Coop

  phone: +1 802 257-0236
  address: 2 Main St
  Healthy foods at reasonable prices, in a relaxed and friendly environment. Staff is knowledgeable and eager to help shoppers in any way that they can.

• Kipling's Restaurant & Pub

  phone: +1 802 257-4848
  address: 78 Elliot St
  Kipling's is a homely little restaurant with a few booths and a bar where you can get a decent burger or the standard pub fare.

• Three Stones (Mexican/Mayan Cantina)

  phone: +1 802 246-1035
  address: 105 Canal St
  Maybe the best restaurant, or at least the most interesting restaurant, in Brattleboro. All the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is great. They have a good selection of Mexican cervezas and wines to accompany the amazing food. All the food is authentic Mayan/Mexican food and they use a lot of local and organic ingredients.

• Amy's Bakery Arts Cafe

  phone: +1 802 251-1071
  address: 113 Main St
  Amy's has great food and baked goods, plus they have the standard coffee shop items. The area in the back is a nice place to sit and over look the river. Overall, a great place and one of the most popular lunch spots in Brattleboro.

• Echo Bar and Lounge

  phone: +1 802 254-2073
  address: 73 Main St
  Trendy wood-fired pizza place downtown. Echo offers salads and some sandwiches in addition to their pizza options. To wash down your pie, you can choose from a small, but high-quality selection of beers, many of them local.

• T. J. Buckley's

  phone: +1 802 257-4922
  address: 132 Elliot St
  By far the fanciest and most elegant dining in Brattleboro. The restaurant is housed in an old diner. The location is a little off the beaten track, but only by a block or two.

• Top of the Hill Grill

  phone: +1 802 258-9178
  address: 632 Putney Rd
  Top of the Hill Grill serves hickory smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and ribs, smoked turkey, grilled chicken and fresh ground burgers. Also, homemade sides – always from scratch and always fresh – include coleslaw, corn bread, baked beans, roasted potatoes and root vegetables, pasta and potato salad. Great BBQ.

• The Chelsea Royal Diner

  phone: +1 802 254-8399
  address: 487 Marlboro Rd
  A vintage 1938 Worcester diner. Decor and food speak of times gone by with Daily Blue Plate Specials, generous portions and extremely friendly pricing. The cuisine is probably best described as "high-end home style". Authentic Mexican fare served Tuesday through Saturday evenings, prime rib Friday and Saturday nights, real mashed potatoes, homemade soups, breads, pies and desserts. Breakfasts are served all day and they are a feast, with homemade pancakes and Belgian waffles, eggs Benedict, and the diners' specialty "Cajun Breakfast Skillet" making for some tough choices. The menu also offers an array of sandwiches, pizza, and a kids menu. Take-out is available for every item. April through October is the season for the Royal Soft Serve Stand, featuring Columbo Nonfat Frozen Yogurt, 10 flavors of soft-serve daily, and the Royal's Homemade "Royal Madness" Ice Cream. There's lots of classic eats too, such as footlong hotdogs with fries, and double cheese burgers.

• Elliott Street Cafe

  phone: +1 802 246-1251
  address: 134 Elliot St
  Great Mexican inspired breakfast and lunch. Very basic set up, very good food. Lots of vegetarian options. They cook all their dishes from scratch, with the highest quality and local ingredients they can find. They are committed to supporting local, sustainable food systems, and a strong local economy. They also have ping pong and host performances.

• Superfresh Organic Cafe

  phone: +1 802-579-1751
  address: 30 Main St.
  A wonderful vegan, gluten free, organic cafe. They have amazing baked goods and smoothies. Quaint and welcome space.

• McNeill's Brewery

  phone: +1 802-254-2553
  address: 90 Eliot Street
  A full service drinking establishment located in downtown Brattleboro on Elliot Street in an old firehouse that is across the street from the actual firehouse. As for the full service concept, McNeill's provides glasses and will even pour beer into your glass for you for a small charge. They can also put beer in a growler for you (a deal at 10 bones with refills for just 8). They also have some pub food that is better than just edible. And darts. And that game with a ring on a string that you swing and catch on a hook, which is surprisingly difficult even before a few beers. If it's possible to have a "dive brewery," this is it. Cash Only.

• Kipling's Restaurant & Pub

  phone: +1 802 257-4848
  address: 78 Elliot St
  Kipling's has standard pub food and a decent selection of beer. A nice place to stop and get a beer, hang out with friends, etc. Kipling's isn't as trendy as Flat Street Brew Pub and lacks the character and charm of McNeill's, but Kipling's make up for that by being the warmest, friendliest, and most "down-to-earth" bar in Brattleboro. The waitress is really nice too. Cash only.

• The Weathervane

  phone: +1 802 258-6529
  address: 19 Elliot St
  The Weathervane is a unique place. They offer live music (sometimes it's a DJ) 5 to 7 nights a week. It's a favorite hangout of Brattleboro townies.

• Metropolis Wine Bar

  phone: +1 802-254-8500
  address: 55 Elliot St
  Metropolis Wine Bar is a nice spot if you want a cocktail or a glass of wine. Sometimes they have DJ and dancing and sometimes they host art showings.

• Hermit Thrush Brewery

  phone: +1 802 257-2337
  address: 29 High St
  Brewery in the former home of Blue Moose Cafe, an old auto warehouse on High St. Hermit Thrush is dedicated to sours and Belgian-style beers, even producing a sour IPA. They only offer growler fills and sample flights due to licensing requirements. There are usually at least 8 beers to try and you can chat with the owners in the rustic wood and brick taproom.

• Mocha Joe's

  phone: +1 802 257-7794
  address: 82 Main St
  Mocha Joe's is a tiny basement coffeeshop that has a full menu of espresso drinks and a small selection of baked goods. They roast their own coffee, which you will find for sale in stores around the region. The shop is split into two rooms, one for ordering and a seating area with a mix of tables and a comfortable couch in the back. The walls feature a rotating art display with pieces available for purchase.

• Latchis Hotel

  phone: +1 802 254-6300
  address: 50 Main St
  Definitely the nicest hotel in Brattleboro. Plus it's right downtown and close to all the good stuff that downtown Brattleboro has to offer. Prices go up on the weekend and during the fall foliage season.

• Quality Inn and Conference Center Brattleboro

  phone: +1 802 254-8701
  address: 1380 Putney Rd
  Pet-friendly. On-site restaurant, pools, sauna, and fitness center. Provides free wifi and extended stay amenities and services.

• Econo Lodge

  phone: +1 802 254-2360
  address: 515 Canal St
  Budget chain hotel by I-91.

• Colonial Motel

  phone: +1 802 257-7733
  address: 889 Putney Rd
  Very affordable independent motel with an attached tavern.

• Lamplighter Inn Motel

  phone: +1 802 254-8025
  address: 1336 Putney Rd

• Motel 6

  phone: +1 802 254-6007
  address: 1254 Putney Rd
  Budget chain hotel neat I-91 exit 3.

• Super 8

  phone: +1 802 254-8889
  address: 1043 Putney Rd
  Budget chain hotel.

• The One Cat Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 802 579-1905
  address: 43 Clark Street
  The One Cat is a small, friendly bed & breakfast five minutes' walk from downtown. Rates include taxes, a full breakfast catering to all diets, use of a small-but-well-stocked library and the breakfast room, which doubles as a place to relax on a rainy day or stormy night. The One Cat offers a discount to guests taking the train. Check the website for unadvertised specials, more information, policies and lots of photographs. Rates go up on weekends and in high season.

• The Brattleboro Reformer. The major local paper.

Keene, New Hampshire is about 40 minutes' drive via US Route 5 North and State Route 9 East, and has more pretty buildings for you to see.